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The Hour -- New British 1950's Spy Drama -- Debuts 8/17/11 on BBC America

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Old 08-16-11, 08:10 PM
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The Hour -- New British 1950's Spy Drama -- Debuts 8/17/11 on BBC America

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By djariya at 2011-08-16

Series Synopsis from BBC America's website:


Dominic West (The Wire), Romola Garai (Emma) and Ben Whishaw (Bright Star) lead an all-star cast on The Hour -- an original, edge-of-your-seat spy thriller set in the world of television journalism in 1956 that The New York Times raves has "a style and intelligence all its own."

BBC reporters Bel Rowley (Romola Garai) and Freddie Lyon (Ben Whishaw) are given the opportunity to escape their jobs producing dull newsreels and work on a new, weekly investigative news program. The interplay and intense ambitions between the rising news team plays out against the backdrop of a rivalry between Freddie and lead anchorman Hector Madden (Dominic West) for Bel's affections. But it's only when Freddie has a chance encounter with a childhood friend, Ruth Elms, that he is thrust into the middle of a mysterious murder along with a controversial and dangerous investigation.

Written and created by BAFTA award-winning Abi Morgan (White Girl), The Hour kicks off BBC America's weekly, hour-long British drama block, Dramaville, hosted by 2011 Emmy nominee and star of Luther, Idris Elba .
I know British TV shows aren't really popular here, but this show is being compared to Mad Men. Plus, it stars Dominic West from The Wire. This 1st season already aired in the UK earlier this year and this is it's U.S. premiere.

Synopsis for episode 1:

Spoiler:
June 1956. BBC reporters and best friends Bel Rowley and Freddie Lyon spot their opportunity to be a part of a brand new current affairs program at Lime Grove Studios. But as Freddie's interview looms, a chance meeting with an old friend finds him pursuing a new story and thrusts him deep into the middle of a gripping adventure.


Promo from BBC America:

<iframe width="640" height="390" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/u_nyCY1s2CA" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

BBC Trailer:

<iframe width="640" height="390" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/InILSU-ZV9M" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>


If anyone here has seen this already, please feel free to express your thoughts.

6 episode 1st season.
Old 08-16-11, 08:23 PM
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Re: The Hour -- New British 1950's Spy Drama -- Debuts 8/17/11 on BBC America

You had me at Mcnulty.
Old 08-16-11, 08:29 PM
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Re: The Hour -- New British 1950's Spy Drama -- Debuts 8/17/11 on BBC America

Unfortunately Directv still doesn't have BBC America in HD along with AMC HD. I'm going to have to DVR this on my SD TV so it doesn't look like shit on my HDTV.
Old 08-16-11, 08:44 PM
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Re: The Hour -- New British 1950's Spy Drama -- Debuts 8/17/11 on BBC America

Kinda vibing a 1950's Spooks. Looks interesting, I'll have to give this a shot. Thanks for the heads up.

Also, looks like Season 1 is coming out on 08/29 on DVD/BD per amazon.co.uk.
Old 08-16-11, 08:48 PM
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Re: The Hour -- New British 1950's Spy Drama -- Debuts 8/17/11 on BBC America

http://www.amazon.com/Hour-Blu-ray-B...3545686&sr=1-1

Also coming out September 27th on Region 1 DVD/BD.
Old 08-16-11, 08:49 PM
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Re: The Hour -- New British 1950's Spy Drama -- Debuts 8/17/11 on BBC America

Originally Posted by Thrush
You had me at Mcnulty.
My thoughts exactly. I have high hopes for this.
Old 08-16-11, 11:58 PM
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Re: The Hour -- New British 1950's Spy Drama -- Debuts 8/17/11 on BBC America

Thanks for the heads up. Funny how different the show looks from the two different trailers.
Old 08-17-11, 07:54 AM
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Re: The Hour -- New British 1950's Spy Drama -- Debuts 8/17/11 on BBC America

Yeah, I'll actually say the US trailer is more compelling (with the exception of the voice over from our resident scifi guest actor). I've heard good things, so I'll take a look. I feel like I saw it on-Demand already, but perhaps that was a preview.
Old 08-17-11, 08:27 AM
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Re: The Hour -- New British 1950's Spy Drama -- Debuts 8/17/11 on BBC America

Dammit - why does this have to be on BBCA. Fucking DTV. You give me crappy channels like Planet Green in HD but can't give me AMC nor BBCA in HD.
Old 08-17-11, 08:35 AM
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Re: The Hour -- New British 1950's Spy Drama -- Debuts 8/17/11 on BBC America

Looking forward to checking this out...in HD. Thanks for the heads-up!
Old 08-17-11, 08:39 AM
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Re: The Hour -- New British 1950's Spy Drama -- Debuts 8/17/11 on BBC America

Originally Posted by Thrush
You had me at Mcnulty.
This
Old 08-17-11, 09:33 AM
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Re: The Hour -- New British 1950's Spy Drama -- Debuts 8/17/11 on BBC America

Originally Posted by Red Dog
Dammit - why does this have to be on BBCA. Fucking DTV. You give me crappy channels like Planet Green in HD but can't give me AMC nor BBCA in HD.
Well for what it's worth Verizon can't get on the BBCA HD bandwagon either.
Old 08-17-11, 10:52 AM
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Re: The Hour -- New British 1950's Spy Drama -- Debuts 8/17/11 on BBC America

Originally Posted by Superman07
Well for what it's worth Verizon can't get on the BBCA HD bandwagon either.
Same here with Comcast. We have the Weather Channel, Golf Channel, and CMT all in HD. But no HD for BBCA or Science Channel.
Old 08-17-11, 11:55 AM
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Re: The Hour -- New British 1950's Spy Drama -- Debuts 8/17/11 on BBC America

It seems to me BBCA does not stream their shows on website, so i guess i am SOL until this arrives on dvd or something.

To paraphrase McNulty and Bunk "Awe...fuck Fuck. Fuck. Fuckin' fuck. Fuck? Fuck, fuck, fuck, fuck...Fucker. Fuck Me."
Old 08-17-11, 01:10 PM
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Re: The Hour -- New British 1950's Spy Drama -- Debuts 8/17/11 on BBC America

Ive been watching this and just finished episode 5 of the 6 in series 1 and I really hope this gets renewed for a series 2
Old 08-17-11, 01:18 PM
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Re: The Hour -- New British 1950's Spy Drama -- Debuts 8/17/11 on BBC America

Originally Posted by Ropes Pierre
It seems to me BBCA does not stream their shows on website, so i guess i am SOL until this arrives on dvd or something.

To paraphrase McNulty and Bunk "Awe...fuck Fuck. Fuck. Fuckin' fuck. Fuck? Fuck, fuck, fuck, fuck...Fucker. Fuck Me."
That's what you get for cancelling your cable. See my post above. It comes out on Region 1 DVD September 27th.
Old 08-17-11, 02:10 PM
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Re: The Hour -- New British 1950's Spy Drama -- Debuts 8/17/11 on BBC America

That was a pretty shitty trailer.
Old 08-17-11, 06:37 PM
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Re: The Hour -- New British 1950's Spy Drama -- Debuts 8/17/11 on BBC America

Originally Posted by sven
That was a pretty shitty trailer.
The 2nd trailer from the BBC sucks. At least BBC America's promo makes sense.
Old 08-18-11, 08:28 AM
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Re: The Hour -- New British 1950's Spy Drama -- Debuts 8/17/11 on BBC America

Well I forgot to set up a record, so it's a moot point now, unless it's reaired this week.
Old 08-18-11, 10:03 AM
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Re: The Hour -- New British 1950's Spy Drama -- Debuts 8/17/11 on BBC America

Originally Posted by Red Dog
Well I forgot to set up a record, so it's a moot point now, unless it's reaired this week.
The Hour - Episode 1
Saturday, August 20, 2011 -10:00 AM
Sunday, August 21, 2011 - 1:00 AM
Wednesday, August 24, 2011 - 4:00 PM
Old 08-18-11, 10:28 AM
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Re: The Hour -- New British 1950's Spy Drama -- Debuts 8/17/11 on BBC America

Thanks.
Old 08-18-11, 11:23 AM
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Re: The Hour -- New British 1950's Spy Drama -- Debuts 8/17/11 on BBC America

Red Dog, you should know that while the premieres of new episodes of The Hour on Wednesday nights are in a 75-minute slot (so that the entire 58-59 minute episode can be shown), the repeats -- well, at least the three repeats of episode 1 -- are in a 60-minute slot, which means 15 minutes will be cut for commercials.

According to the BBC America website, The Hour should be available On Demand, and they are usually good about putting up the full versions of episodes.
Old 08-18-11, 11:26 AM
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Re: The Hour -- New British 1950's Spy Drama -- Debuts 8/17/11 on BBC America

Oh brother. Well, I'll give the repeat a shot. If it makes no sense with the edits, then I won't bother watching any further.
Old 08-18-11, 11:51 AM
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Re: The Hour -- New British 1950's Spy Drama -- Debuts 8/17/11 on BBC America

Red Dog, I know you don't like to watch/stream stuff off your computer, but you can also download the full 59 minute premiere for free off Itunes and Amazon Instant Video. In case you would rather watch that than the cut down version.

If you have a BD player that streams Amazon Instant video, you can watch the premiere on your TV and in HD too.

Last edited by DJariya; 08-18-11 at 12:00 PM.
Old 08-18-11, 01:05 PM
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Re: The Hour -- New British 1950's Spy Drama -- Debuts 8/17/11 on BBC America

Red Dog, my guess based on past experience with BBC America edited versions of 60-minute shows (back when they aired things like Spooks, Life On Mars, etc.) is that the edited version will make enough sense for you to understand what is going on, but it might feel choppy. Perhaps a good way to think of it is that the edit might make you think the plot instantly moved from A to B to C, while the full episode shows that it took the characters time to move from A to B to C.

If you like what you're seeing in the edited first episode, please continue watching -- you'll have a chance to record the full versions of the next five episodes on Wednesday nights! And if the past is any indication, BBC America may have a "Sunday marathon" of full episodes of The Hour before the finale, so you can see the missing bits and pieces of the first episode then.

I'm watching this at UK pace (episode 5 aired this Tuesday), and while it is a bit of a "slow burner," I'm enjoying the show, so don't give up on The Hour yet!


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